TM 6-1: What is You-Attitude? You-Attitude is a style of writing that Looks at things from the reader’s point of view. Respects the reader’s intelligence. Protects the reader’s ego. Emphasizes what the reader wants to know. TM 6-2: Creating You-Attitude To create you-attitude, writers should Talk about the reader, not themselves. Not talk about feelings, except to congratulate or offer sympathy. Use you more often than I in positive situations. Use we when it includes the reader. Avoid “you” in negative situations. TM 6-3: Creating You-Attitude Lacks You-Attitude You-Attitude 1. I have worked hard to get you the best contract settlement possible. 1. Under the new contract, you’ll receive dental insurance. 2. You will be happy to learn that the School of Management offers four different majors. 2. In the School of Management, you can major in accounting, management, industrial management, and economics. 3. Send us a copy of the signed delivery receipt. 3. To get credit for the books you returned, just send us a copy of the delivery receipt signed by a Long’s employee. 4. We are shipping your order of September 14 today. 4. The 500 road signs you ordered will be shipped today and should reach you by October 20. 5. You forgot to consider 5. The estimate makes no inflation in your estimate. allowance for inflation. This factor must be included to achieve a reliable figure. TM 6-4: Situations that Change You-Attitude In a positive situation Focus on what the reader can do. “We give you” lacks youattitude because the sentence focuses on what we are doing. Avoid you When it criticizes the reader or limits the reader’s freedom. In a job application letter Create you-attitude by showing how you can help meet the reader’s needs, but keep the word you to a minimum. TM 6-5: Creating Goodwill Beyond the Sentence Level To create goodwill with content Be complete. Anticipate and answer questions the reader is likely to have. Show why information the reader didn’t ask for is important. Show readers how the subject of your message affects them. To create goodwill with organization Put information readers are most interested in first. Arrange information to meet your reader’s needs, not yours. Use headings and lists so that the reader can find key points quickly. TM 6-6: A Poor Example of You-Attitude December 11, 2004 Ms. Carol McFarland Rollins Equipment Corporation 1307 Paquette Street Sudbury, ON P3A 5R7 Dear Ms. McFarland: We are now ready to issue a check to Rollins Equipment in the amount of $14,207.02. Upon our release of said cheque, you will deliver to me releases of mechanic’s liens in the amounts of $14,207.02 and $13,155.27. Before we can release the cheque, we must be satisfied that the releases are in proper form. We must insist that we be provided with a stamped original of the lien indicating the document number in the appropriate district court where it is filed. Also, either the releases must be executed by an officer of Rollins Equipment, or we must be provided with a letter from an officer of Rollins Equipment authorizing another individual to execute the release. Please contact the undersigned so that we can set up an appointment for this transaction. Sincerely, K. J. Pickett TM 6-7: A Poor Example of You-Attitude The message has an unfriendly tone (“we must insist”). The message requires the reader to do everything. “We” is used too often. The writer uses old-fashioned language and jargon (“said cheque,” “the undersigned”). The writer does not consider the reader. The message is hard to read and understand. TM 6-8: A Better Example of You-Attitude December 11. 2004 Ms. Carol McFarland Rollins Equipment Corporation 1307 Parquette Street Sudbury, ON P3A R57 Dear Ms. McFarland: Let’s clear up the liens in the Rollins contract. Rollins will receive a check for $14,207.02 when you give us releases for mechanic’s liens of $14,207.02 and $13,155.27. To assure us that the releases are in the proper form, 1. Give us a stamped original of the lien indicating the document’s district court number, and 2. Either a. Have the releases signed by an officer of Rollins Equipment or b. Give us a letter from a Rollins officer authorizing someone else to sign the release. Call me to tell me which way is best for you. Sincerely, K. J. Pickett TM 6-9: A Better Example of You-Attitude The message has an unfriendly tone (“we must insist”). Clear personal references replace jargon. Straightforward directions replace the convoluted message in the previous letter. Choices are clear. The ending makes it clear who the reader should contact.